Launcher



April 25, 1961 A. H. MILLER, JR

LAUNCl-IER 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l5, 1954 ER we 1N VENTOR H. MLL

ATTORNEYS ARTHUR April 25, 1961 A. H. MILLER, JR

LAUNCHER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l5, 1954 INVENTOR /LL El? ATTORNEYS April 25, 1961 A. H. MILLER, JR 2,981,150

LAUNCHER Filed June 15, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 www /ea FIG. 3. 104 w 1f/5 5 l 'l "Y 242W /6 "l/' i, l; "y #254k i l 4s 54 19s l 357 45 -J f 1;- Y Y INVENTOR 52 :f3 202 2% v 56 ARTHUR H. MLLER fi il 1" 2 BY UM ATTORNEYS April 25, 1961 A. H. MILLER, JR

LAUNCHER Filed June l5, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 llIlllIlllII/lllllllIIIIlIIllI/IIII Il.

INVENTOR ARTHUR H. MILLER @/3 avmmxs .illlijljwigu\\\\\\""" l M:

April 25, 1961 A. H. MILLER, JR

LAUNCHER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ARTHUR MLLER @MAJ-7 A ATTORNEYS Filed June 15, 1954 April z5, 1961 A. H. MIL'LER, JR

LAUNCHER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June l5, 1954 INVENTOR THUR H. MILLER IIIIAII 1569@ CQ/ @126 www LAUNCHER Arthur H. Miller, Jr., Silver Spring,

United States of America as retary of the Navy Filed June 15, 19154, Ser.l No. 437,016

4 Claims. (Cl. 89-1.7)

Md., assignor to the represented by the See- The present invention relates to launching devices for aerial vehicles and, more particularly, to launchers for aerial vehicles propelled by reaction type motors.

Guided missiles presently undergoing design and development, and intended for tactical use, usually include rockets or ramjet vehicles which are propelled at launching and during the `first ilight stage by separable booster rockets. The combination of a vehicle and its booster has a weight of several tons. Furthermore, the thrust developed by the rocket amounts to many thousand pounds. The weight of the missile and the blast accompanying the launching thereof require a very substantial launching structure. In addition, the launching structure must be capable of raising the combination of the vehicle tand booster to the desired launching angle.

Another requirement for a launcher intended for tactical use is that provision be made for mounting the aerial vehicle and booster on the launcher quickly and in such a position that it will immediately clear said launcher upon ignition of the booster rocket. Obviously, if the missile were deflected from its intended course by striking a part of the launcher, the results might be disastrous in terms of probable injury to personnel, missile failure and damage to the launching structure.

An additional requirement for the launching structure is that the electrical cables interconnecting the missile electrical equipment and a ground control and test sta- -tion be protected from the blast accompanying launching. To accomplish the required protection, the cables must be completely shielded `from the heat and llame accompanying the takeolf of the missile.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is the provision of a launcher structurally suitable for launching guided missiles propelled by reaction type motors.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a missile launcher which is adjustable in elevation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means `by which a guided missile can readily be mounted in firing position on the launcher so that it will quickly clear the launching structure upon ignition of the booster rocket.

Other objects and many of the attendant -advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same bev comes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the-accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the launcher of the present invention, with a missile mounted thereon shown fragmentarily;

Fig. 2 is `a plan View of the launcher shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation' of the launcher shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is aA section along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section along line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section along line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section along line 7--7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the top of the launcher central y, 2,981,150 Patented Apr. 25, 1961 lCC column with the boom and parts of the trunnion removed; Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a part of the boom of the launcher;

Fig. 9A is a bottom plan view of the part of the boom shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 9B is a section along 9B-9B of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9C is a section along line 9C-9C of Fig. 9;

Figs. 10 and 1l are vfragmentary views showing the details of the arrangement in which` the forward and aft missile shoes, respectively, are received in the rails on the launcher arm, Fig.' 10 being an elevation and Fig. 1l a section;

Fig. l2 is Ia fragmentary section showing the details of the contacts by which electrical connection is made to the booster igniter lead;

Fig. 12A is a fragmentary view of a detail of the connection shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. i3 is an enlarged section along line 13-13 of Fig. l, some parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged section on line 14-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. l5 is a section on line 15--15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a section on line 16-16 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 17 is a section on line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an elevation, corresponding to Fig. 9, of a modication of a section of the boom;

Fig. 18A is a bottom plan view of the modification of the boom section shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 18B is a section Ialong line 1SB-18B of Fig. 18; and Fig. 18C is a section along line ISC-18C of Fig. 18.

Brielly, the invention comprises a central tubular column adapted to be fastened to the ground or a deck surface. A plurality of supporting legs are provided which hold the colmnn in a vertical position and also assist in restraining the column from lateral motion. A boom adjustable in elevation is pivotally mounted vonA the upper end of the central column and a hydraulic actuator is provided for adjusting the boom. Leveling means are provided on each leg and may be used to adjust the legs with respect to the central column, thereby pre-stressing the launcher for assisting in withstanding the launching forces. Means carried on the boom cooperate with means carried on the missile so that the missile can easily be mounted on the boom, land the lmounting arrangement is such that the missile is immediately freed of the launcher upon firing. Two embodiments of this' mounting arrangement are disclosed for use with different types of missile boosters.

Referring to Figs. yl and 2 of the drawings, the launcher is shown as comprising a central tubular column 20 supported by a base at its lower end, generally indicated by reference vnumeral 2l. As best seen in Fig. 4, base 2l comprises a plate Z2 provided with an `aperture 23 aligned with an 'aperture 24 in a block of concrete 25 thereto by a plurality ofv webs or gusset plates 27 welded to both the sleeve 2.6 and said plate. A ball seat 28 is carried in the bottom of the sleeve 26 .and supports a ball 29, which is retained in the sleeve 26 by 4a retainer ring 36 screwed into the upper end of said sleeve. The ball 29 is drilled to provide an aperture 31 which `is counterbored, forming a shoulder 31. The counterbored portion of aperture 31 is internally threaded to` receive the threaded lower end portion 32 of sleeve 33, which has spaced shoulders 34 and 35 formed on thev outside surface thereof. The upper end portion 32 of sleeve 33 is receivedv in a cylindrical housing 36, the shoulder 34 being held in abutting relation with a thrust ring 37 on the inside surface of said housing by a snap ring 38 carried in a groove 38 and bearing against the shoulder 35. Thegcylindrical. housing 36 is,n mounted inside theV f p i The central colu yrestrained rfrom lateral zmotiorib'y an arrangemen generallyresem.blingy that ofzal tripod yand incl y rrela tively long forw'irdlyextendingleg 40 and.y two rela-l 'tive l icause of the positiony ofy thernissile' 'on'the launcher, the i yelements lof `the forward: leg 4t). 'are made. largerr andy .,b'er's; 43 and' 44; 'interconnected thel sleeve :cooperate with the base 21 and column 20,

respectively, jtd provide ia pivotal `confnectionA between i ysaidbaseaudcolumn. i

n i's-:held in' vertical alignment jand' ly "short frearwardlyextending le'gs41 'andi :42. f vrBe2 l j rstru,eter-ally stronger than those 'of the rearwardly e'x-Y v l l l y y v. y y y l l l ltending legs; in'otherres'pects all of thelegs are identical.z 10,4; Relativly 'fihll-Wfllled 'P12935 H12-11d 2113 are i211,-v Each'leg '40, 41 and 42 is'inthe .form of a .simple truss, i z 20':

f kand legs 41 and 42 each comprise spaced tubular mem-,1

,by end: sleevel j and: y

' contact' the surfaceroftubelll .This arrairgel l pletely .shieldsel'eetrical cables, as 116,` Whichare brought v l,

crossmembers i46and' 47,A the f :44'interconnectedf by anzgend: sleeve 45', za cross-member 1 46 anda:` gusset plate 4735.311 lofithesez'elementsbeing; n;

'and '42,y -are'proi/ided with flanges@ and 491" l.at-theiry rluer' z Aends,Vr which are. removably ,attached {responding'anges 54r and 54" carr led.i on l shortl tubula column 20, the 'weldl sections 156 and A553 welded; to the',

` i joints beingjreinforcedvby welded plates '58; vThe upper trussrnembers 44 'and r4" or urs respeetive i regg 40, g 41l 'As' besty seen; injy Figs. g2 and'y 6, the sleeves the outer ends` of the legs carryA adjustable feety 63,' the' y details of lwhichy diter somewhat from. thosey of the' base 21. Each sleeve and adjustable foot assembly includes a plate 64 having a sleeve 66 mounted thereon, the sleeve 66 being reinforced by gusset plates 68. A ball 'seat member 70 is mounted at the bottom of the sleeve 66 for supporting a ball 74, which is fastened on the lower end of a post 76 by a pin 75 and is retained in the sleeve 66 by a retainer ring 78 screwed into the upper end of said sleeve. This construction provides a ball -and socket connection between each foot and post, `63 and 76, respectively, at the outer end of each of the legs. The post 76 has a threaded portion 80 screwed into a threaded aperture 83 in a bushing 81, said bushing being carried in the lower end of the supporting sleeve. The bushing 81 is retained in a space formed below a shoulder 82 provided on the inside surface of the supporting sleeve, said bushing being held against downward displacement by a snap ring 85 received ina groove 84 in member 45', and being locked against rotation by a set screw 86. A ring 88 is welded on the inside surface of the supporting sleeve adjacent the upper end thereof to provide la shoull cross mem-ber 47 :being al l lwebior gusset plate'welded to members 43,144; and sleeve i l' comprisesspacerl tubular members 43' .andA p iower end of 'tubular .'colinun20y by webs :39 which are secured/ro the :inside surface of said column. The cen-i f dingthrc'vugh' the' base 21 lpermitselec# l shown) ltd be inserted into` tllecolurrntil structurallyl stronger. than rthe :correspondingmembersl of legs y41ga`nd 42,.; lAsbest seen inl Figs. ll

- tubular. members@ andas.' or; the respective legs' 40,41- 5 i r i 'As bestseeri ill f p inner section 121" 4 m pair of spaced. trulmion comprises a mounts .105.y lat`-, p

: tached to a plate 107 which is bolted to the underside of 1 l the been 1.00, near the larger end. thereof, and f e pair; y ofy laterally spaced yokes'y `or pillow blocks 108- boltedto j l the` upper surfacey of 'the platel 104. Piusy 114r arey .in- 'V ,y f

serted.y inthe 'alignedi apertures providedin the trunnion` t j ,y mounts 105 and pillow blocks 108 to complete' the pivf' otal connection 102.k l v i Forl protecting electrical control cables, one of which' y is shown atf116, tvvogspac'edshield `plates'1.111 and 1 12 turesl' and =1.190nlits top and bottom.sides,irespectivel y f ly, is fastened f to the brackets l115y ywith said apertures l i 118 .and 1119 in alignment withy the 'aperturey 10:51u platel y I y tached along rcorrespending edgesftotheshield plates 1,163` g and 1.12, respect-ixrely,A #and l` arel arranged gse-that l the yop; o site edge ofl each plate may bebent to fnctionally yup through jthe i' interior 'of column? 20,i apertureflQS in l l' 'f i f plate 1104; rthe apertures; 1.18 and i119 in tube l117 land y l passed lthrough yaligned holes provided injy plate 107 and y i 10() Vanrdknto, .the hollGW in? 1 en. in'Fi'g. l, a handholelZt) y i l f is provided limone 'er the immuun mounts ,1,05 tto-permit i t i l thel underside of the boom terior yof `said boom..y se

100, and an openingcovered lon one side by a suitable` modat'e any electrical contact, to* be described hereinafter.

yAn `accesshole 127l and a cable'holeg129: (Fi-g. l)l are-also i l' provided in the boom 100, the former "adjacent the inner der 89, and an apertured guide disk 90, in which theA upper portion of post 76 is journaled, is retained against the shoulder 89 by an elongated cylindrical spacer 92 extending between the bushing 81 and said disk 90. The upper end 93 of shaft 76 is squared to receive a wrench for `adjusting the foot 63 in the supporting sleeve.

|Referring to Figs. l, 3, 7 and 8, a tapered boom 100, of rectangular cross-section, is mounted on the upper end of the column 20 by a pivotal connection generally indicated by reference numeral 102. A plate 104 having an aperture 103 therein is carried on the upper end of the column 20, being attached to said column by a plurality of gusset plates 106 which are welded to the column 20 and said plate. The pivotal connection 102 end of the` boo-m and the latter adjacent the outer end thereof.

Forward `.and aft track assemblies and 136, which cooperate withfforwardand aft booster shoes 138 and 140, `respectively,\are best shown `in Figs. 9 through 9C and are supported on the section 122 of boom 100. The track assemblies 135 and 136 are removably mounted on a plate 142 which is attached by bolts 14.4.(Figs. 9B and 9C) to the underside of boom` section 122, suitable spacers 146 being inserted between the plate 142 and said boomA section. The ,plate `142 is providedl along its longitudinally extending edges with a plurality of spaced notches 148 adapted to receive eyebo lts 150 which, as tothe forward track assembly 135, are pivotally mounted on bolts 152 journaled in spaced yokes 154 projecting from opposite sides of a rail 158, said rail being a part of said forward track assembly. The aft rail 160, which is a part of the aft track assembly 136, is similarly provided with spaced yokes delinedby lugs 162 for journal ing bolts `152 which pivotally mount eye-bolts 150; As seen in Figs. 9B and l0, the forward 1ra`il158` is provided with a rectangular recess 1 66 forreceiving the spaced forward booster shoesrllil,A Eachside wall of the recess 166 isf provided with a` groove 168 into which a lip 139 on the corresponding forward booster shoe projects. A stop pin 169 (lFig. 9B) is provided adjacent the aft end of each groove 168` to limit rearward movement of the booster; To assist in centering the track assemblies 135 and 136 with respect to the plate 142 and thereby facilitate positioningfthe eye-bolts in the notches 148, a key 170, having tapered edges and attached to said plate by screws 171, is arranged to cooperate with a keyway 172 formed in the Y upper surface of the rails 158 and 160. i

l, lthe boom' ltlisjcomposed of ani i l i I' p aud/outer. sectionflZZlhavin-g ilan'ges y", .7', l122i, andf 124,. respectively/which can be joined,r as 'im f f f f dicated by any desiredl means. The boom 100' .is fabi--y i l l ricated from plate stock and, jas.r previously stated, is hol-py 'V l i and@vr are similarly l,proviflled with angesat their inner i 10W and emlgulaf WSS 259999@ i best' Serl' iflFg f l l ends., nke'wise lattached by sans' tof 'usages earned zon l 9 an end-plate "1261s bhedtothe'omer; end yoibvvm l Q tubular sections welded to the column 20.

The aft track assembly 136 is generally similar to the forward track assembly 135 except for the details of the rail 160. lIn the aft track assembly 136, the single aft booster shoe 140 is T-shaped in cross section and is received, as shown in Fig. 11, in a correspondingly shaped recess 174. A single stop 176 (Figs. 9A and 9C) is provided in the recess 174 near its aft end. The mode of attachment of the aft track assembly 136 to the plate 142 is identical to that of the forward track assembly 135, as explained hereinabove.

The details of the electrical connections to the booster igniter lead lare shown in Fig. l2. A spring loaded contact assembly, generally lindicated by reference numeral 300, is mounted on the plate 142, being suitably positioned so that when said plate 142 is on the boom section 122 part of said contact assembly extends into `a cutaway portion formed in said boom section and `covered by the plate 128. The contact assembly 300 comprises a cylindrical housing 302 of insulating material provided with'a threaded end portion 304 received in a threaded aperture 306 in the plate 142. A set screw 308 prevents rotation of the'housing 302 with respect to said plate.

A chamber 310 having an end wall formed with an axial aperture 311 is provided in the housing 302, Vand an elongated contact stem 312 having an enlarged element or head 314 formed on one end thereof is slidably carried in said aperture. A coiled spring 316 surrounds the stem 312 and is interposed between said head and the top Wall 318 of the chamber 310. At its upper end, the contact stem 312 receives a terminal lug and nut assembly 320 which is carried on the end of an electrical lead 320 which conducts current from a source provided at a remote control station (not shown).

A second spring loaded contact assembly shown at 322, is mounted on the rail 158 for providing electrical connection between the contact 3.12 andV a strap 335 of conducting material, carried on the missile shoe 138. The contact assembly 322 includes a sleeve 323 of insulating material having a groove 324 on its outer surface and a shoulder 325 on its inner surface. The sleeve 323 is retained in an aperture 326 in rail 158 by a set screw 327 threaded into an aperture in said rail and having its inner end received in the groove 324. lA contact 328 having an enlarged head 329 at one end and a sleeve 330 press fitted onto its other end is slidably carried in the insulating sleeve 323. A spring 331 is-interposed between the shoulder 325 and the lower edge of sleeve 330 for yieldably positioning'the vcontact 328 in the housing 323 so that said contact can engage both contact head 314 and contact strap 335.

As seen in Fig. 12A, the strap 335 is shaped to t over the top surface of shoe 138, and is attached to said shoe by screws 336, only one of which is shown. A layer of insulation 338 similar in shape to strap 335 separates said strap from the missile shoe 138, and shouldered bushings 339 of insulating material are provided between the strap 335 and 'the screws 336. A terminal :lug 340, insulated from the shoe 138 and screw 336 by one of the shouldered bushings 339, is held in electrical vcontact with strap 335. The terminal lug 340 is carried on one end of an electrical lead 341 which has its other end connected to the booster rocket igniter (not shown). The igniter'circuit is completed through a common ground connection to the remote control station (not shown).

Referring again to Figs. 9 and 9A, both the forward track assembly 135 and the aft track assembly 136 are provided with removable stops 178 to prevent forward displacement of the missile from the boom 100. The removable stops 178 are formed of heavy wire and are received in suitable apertures provided in the forward and aft rails and can be readily withdrawn from the path of the booster shoes by circular handles 179.

A channel member 180 is mounted on the underside of the plate 14,2, being attached by bolts to suitably spaced bosses 182, 184 and 186 on said plate. The channel member is provided as a guide and to prevent the aft booster shoe 140 (Fig. 1) from striking the forward track assembly 135, upon launching of the missile.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, a hydraulic actuator, generally indicated by reference numeral 195, is used to elevate the launcher boom 100 to the desired tiring angle. The actuator is of conventional type and includes a cylinder 196 which is pivotally mounted on the column 20 near its lower end. This pivotal mounting includes a plate 198 attached to the column 20 and having an apertured lug 200 integral therewith. A yoke 202 is carriedy on the lower end of the cylinder 196 and a pin 204 is inserted through aligned apertures provided in the lug 200 and the yoke 202. The piston rod 206 of the hydraulic actuator is pivotally attached at its upper end to the inner end of the boom 100, as are the upper ends of a pair of stop rods 208 and 210.

The pivotal connection between the rods 206, 208 and 210 and the boom 100 includes a plate 212 attached by bolts to the end of boom section v121. The plate 212 has three pairsl of suitably spaced apertured lugs 214 formed integral therewith. The upper ends of the rods 206, 208 and 210 are provided with sleeve bearings 216, 218 and 220, respectively, and a shaft 221 is inserted through aligned apertures in said bearings and the lugs 214, the shaft being retained in position by snap rings 215 provided adjacent its outer ends.

The stop rods 208 and 210 are slidably carried in spaced apertures 224 and 226 provided in a stop block 228 on cylinder 196, and are provided along their lengths with a plurality of spaced circumferential grooves 230. A pair of stop rings 231 is carried on each of the rods 208 and 210, and as said rings are identical in construction, a description of one will suffice for all. As best seen in Figs. 14 and 15, a typical stop ring 231 includes a split inner element 232 having a threaded outer wall and an inwardly directed lip 233, said lip being engageable in a selected one of the grooves 230. Each half ofthe ring element 232 carries an inwardly directed pin 234 which is engageable in` a socket 235 in the rod 210. As will be seen in Figs. 13 and 14, sockets 235 are arranged in vertically spaced, diametrically opposed pairs between adjacent grooves 230. The lip 233 and the pin 234 `and socket 235 cooperate to retain the ring element 232 in position on the rod 210 during installation of the stop ring 231. The halves of the ring element 232 are retained in locked operative positions by an outer ring element 236 which is screwed on the threaded outer wall of said element, and the outer ring element 236 is provided with a knurled outer surface 237 and Spanner wrench sockets 238. The ring 231 can be moved to any desired position on the rod 210 by simply removing the outer element 236 and disengaging the parts of the split element 232, when the lips 233 can be engaged in another of the grooves 230. Attention is directed to the fact that a relatively fine adjustment of the ring 231 can be obtained by inverting the element 232 so that the lips 233 will appear at the bottom of said element (in Fig. 14) rather than at the top, in which instance the pins 234 would engage in the sockets 235 above the groove 230 in which the lips are anchored, rather than in the sockets below said grooves as shown.

As stated hereinabove, the stop rods 208 and 210 are each provided with an upper and lower stop ring 231. The grooves 230 and holes 232 are arranged along the respective rods 2018 and 210 so that the boom 100 can be set at desired angles of elevation, up to approximately 85.

Referring again to Fig. l, the operating mechanism for the hydraulic actuator includes a pump driven by an electric motor, a valve, and a tank for the hydraulic fluid, and is mounted in ya housing 240 on the lower member 43 of the forward leg 40. A control handle is provided on said housing. Since these elements are conventional, no detailedA description is `given herein.

tube.

yApairoi hydraulic leads 241 and 242 interconnect the pump housing 240 and the hydrauliccylinder 196, lead 241 being connected to the lower end of said cylinder` and lead 242 being connected to the upper end thereof. Flexible sections 243 and 244 are provided in the leads 241 and 242, respectively, to permit bending as thecylinder 196 moves about its lower end. A flow limiter 244 is inserted in the lead 242-to limit kthe iiow out of the cylinder in the event of a power failurestopping the pump. The flow limiter 244 prevents a loaded boom from moving rapidly yto its lowermost position.

As can be seen in Figs. 3, 16 and 17, an indicator 350 for assisting in vertically aligning the center column 20 is mounted Aon'said column. -The indicator 350 includes a tube 351 'attached to the column 20-=by mounting j brackets 352. The tube 351 has a sight opening 353 intermediate its ends. A plumb bob 354 issuspended within the tube 351, said plumb bob being attached by a steel wire 355 to a top cap 356 on the upper end of said Theflower end of tube351 is closed by a cap 357 and a supply of damping fluid 358 is provided in the bottom of the tube into which the pumb bob 354 extends. A gauge plate 360, having an aperture 361 through which the `steel wire 355 extends, is mounted in tube 351 adjacent the lower end of sight opening 353 by set kscrews 362 having their inner ends received in `a peripheral tionship alon-gsaid boom sectiombeing fastened thereto by means'of bolts 260, spacers 262 being interposed be`- tweengthe'underside of said boom section and said plates.

Each of the plates 256 and 258 is provided withnotches kkmemberi 254 adjacent the forward end thereof, said dowels being received in apertures 276 provided inthe plate k256 to align the channel member and the plate.

,The forward track assembly 250 includes a pair of spaced rails 280 and 282 attached to the undersideof channel member 254 and interconnected by reinforcing plates 286.

Each of said rails has a groove'284 therein for receiving n correspondingly spaced shoes carried on the booster.

groove 363 provided on said plate.k Two series .i6-land 365 of opposed sighting markings 366 are provided on the top surface of said plate. By sighting along the markings thus provided and adjusting the feet 63 of the launcher until the wire 355 moves to the center of the aperture 361 in gauge plate 360, the central column 20 can be broughtintovertical alignment. As can be seen yin Fig, 3 a panel 270 is also provided on the central col umn 20 for mounting such controls as maybe needed.

It is believed that thegeneral modeofioperationof the launcher will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. To facilitate mounting the missile and'its booster on the boom;100, theforward and aft track assemblies 135 and 136 are removed from the plate 142 and are mounted on the booster, the forward booster shoes 138 being received in the grooves 168 of the forward track `assembly and the aft `booster shoe 140 received in the T-shaped recess 174 in the aft track assembly. The missile and booster are then raised in -a position near the boom 100 and in 4alignment therewith, so that the eye-bolts 150 can be swung into their respective notches 148. The removable stops 178 are then inserted in the apertures provided in the forward and aft track assemblies. With the missile in position, the central column 20 can be aligned vertically by adjusting the feet 63, if

necessary, and pre-stressing of the launching structure can also be accomplished, if desired, by adjusting the feet with the central column .fixed The stop rings 231 are then adjusted along stop rods 20S and 210 to positions corresponding to the desired angle of elevation of the boom 100, and the hydraulic actuator is energized to raise or lower the boom 100 to said angle. Firing is accomplished by the ignition of the booster from a remote point through the medium of an electric current applied through the leads 320 and 341, which pass through the interior of column 20 and boom 100. Because the tracks 158 and 160 are extremely short, the missile and booster are quickly freed from the launcher.

The modified boom shown in Figs. 18 through 18C is interchangeable with the boom 100; that is, the modified boom section 245 can be substituted for the Section 122 to provide greater ease of missile attachment. A cable hole 246 and a hand hole 247, provided with a cover plate 249, are suitably located along the boom section 245. The boom section 245 carries forward and a-ft track assemblies 250 'and 252, respectively, interconnected by a channel member 254. To support the channel member and track assemblies on the boom section 245, a pair of plates 256 and 258 is arranged in spaced rela- The aft track assembly 252kincludes a single central rail 290 provided near the aft end of channel member 254 and havingia recess 292 therein which is T-shaped in cross section to receive a correspondingly shapedaft missile shoe, as in theiirst describedembodiment of the invention. A stop 294is provided in the aftermost part of recess 292 toprevent rearward displacement ofthe missile.

The :operation of attaching, the missile to the boom when boom section 245 is used differs slightly from the y operation described above in connection with the boom rsection 122.: The assembly including channel member 254" and the track assemblies 250 and 252 is detached' from the boom section 245 and positioned so thatvthe forward and aft missile shoes, generally similar to those` shown in Figs. `10 and 11, are received in the grooves 284 and the recess 292, respectively. The missile `and boosterr combination can then be lifted, by attachment of a suitable hoist to the channel member 254, andk raised to a position adjacent the boom section 245, when the eye-bolts 266 may be engaged in notches 264 for mounting the missile and booster on the boom.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. In a launcher for an aerial vehicle, a central column having a base at the lower end thereof, supporting legs projecting from said column generally resembling that of a tripod and including a relatively long forwardly extending leg and two relatively short rearwardly extending legs, each of said legs being formed of a simple truss, each of said legs being provided with an adjustable foot at its outer end, a boom pivotally mounted on the upper end of said central` column, a pair of spaced plates attached to the underside of said boom, each of said plates being provided with notches along its edges, a pair of spaced track assemblies, means interconnecting said track assemblies, pivotal means carried by said means inter connecting said track assemblies and adapted to engage in said notches, rails carried by said track assemblies and adapted to releasably receive mating parts on said aerial vehicle, means between said boom and column for elevating said boom about its pivot including a hydraulic actuator having a cylinder attached at one end to said central column and a piston rod working in said cylinder, said rod being attached to one end of said boom, a stop rod slideably carried in said cylinder and having one end pivotally connected to said boom, and adjustable stop members carried in said stop rod.

2. An arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said legs are adjustable with respect to said central column `for pre-stressing said launcher with said aerial vehicle 3. An arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein each adjustable foot includes a plate, a sleeve carried in said plate, a ball seat in said sleeve, a ball supported in said ball seat, and'means attaching the ball to its supporting leg.

4. An arrangement as recited in claim 1, and means for indicating vertically of said column including a tube mounted on said central column and having its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said central column, said tube being provided with a sighting opening intermediate its ends, a gauge plate having a central aperture therein, said gauge plate'being positioned horizontally in said tube near said sighting opening, a plumb bob suspended within said tube, a Wire for suspending said plumb bob, said wire being attachedat 10 one end to the upper end of said tube and passing through said aperture in said gauge plate, and means on said gauge plate for indicating when said wire is in the center of said aperture. Y

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 688,952 Janssen Dec. 17, 1901 798,666 Derx Sept. 5, 1905 1,380,243 Osburn g May 31, 1921 1,661,091 Riabouchinski Feb. 28, 1928 1,836,010 Audrain Dec. 15, 1931 2,474,250 Howard `.Tune 28, 1949 2,582,548 Larson Jan. 15, 1952 2,703,508 Lauritsen Mar. 8, 1955 2,710,384 Dupre et a1. June 7, 1955 2,735,391 Buschers Feb. 21, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 123,833 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1919 

